title: Properties of immunoglobulin A in serum of individuals with liver diseases and in hepatic bile.
abstract: In comparison with normal individuals, sera of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and other liver diseases had two to four times higher levels of immunoglobulin A and three to ten time higher levels of polymeric immunoglobulin A. The possible participation of the liver in the selective removal of polymeric immunoglobulin A from serum into bile was investigated by analyzing immunoglobulin A in serum and bile specimens obtained from a group of patients with T-tube drainage of the common bile duct. Gel filtration revealed three principal fractions of biliary immunoglobulin A: secretory immunoglobulin A with J chain and secretory component; polymeric immunoglobulin A associated with J chain; and monomeric immunoglobulin A devoid of J chain and secretory component. Secretory component-complexed immunoglobulin A composed only 50% or less of the total biliary immunoglobulin A. In comparison with immunoglobulin G, polymeric forms of immunoglobulin A appeared to be selectively transported into bile whereas monomeric immunoglobulin A was not. These data suggested that the liver selectively transports polymeric immunoglobulin A from serum into bile by both secretory component-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001646:Bile / Q000032:analysis*; D001692:Biological Transport; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D007144:Immunoglobulin J-Chains / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000276:immunology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011108:Polymers; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D007144:Immunoglobulin J-Chains; D011108:Polymers